Candidate for New York governor loses rabbi's support over gay apology

Carl Paladino had apologised for saying children shouldn't be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is acceptable

Rabbi Yehuda Levin (l) withdrew his support Carl Paladino (c) after the candidate for New York governor apologised for saying children shouldn?t be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is acceptable Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

Associated Press

Wednesday 13 October 2010 17.07 EDT
First published on Wednesday 13 October 2010 17.07 EDT

An Orthodox rabbi has said he is withdrawing his endorsement of New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino because the Republican apologised for comments he made about gay people.

Rabbi Yehuda Levin, who represents an umbrella organisation of ultra-Orthodox clerics, accused Paladino today of bowing to political pressure when he apologised for a speech in which he said children should not be "brainwashed" into thinking homosexuality is acceptable. Speaking in New York,

Levin said he would not be able to support Paladino's campaign "until such time as he straightens out".

Paladino spokesman Michael Caputo said in an e-mail that the rabbi and Paladino "agree on many things and disagree on some, too. He's entitled to his opinion."